Spatial Disparities, Education, and Incarceration: A Socioeconomic Study of Prisoners in Southern Peru

Arocutipa J.P.F.; Huallpa J.J.; Arpasi C.M.P.; Quispe R.D.C.; Minaya J.C.L. · Journal of Applied Bioanalysis (2025) · DOI: 10.53555/jab.v11i3.252

Resumen

This study examines the relationship between education, income, and incarceration in Samegua prison, Moquegua, Peru, with a focus on the socio-economic disparities prevalent in southern Peru. A non-experimental quantitative approach was employed, surveying 201 prisoners. The findings indicate that 91.5% of the prison population is male, with 62.7% aged between 20 and 40. 74.8% of inmates come from regions marked by high poverty and limited educational opportunities. Most prisoners (93%) earned less than 2,500 soles before incarceration, and 57.7% identify as being from the lower class. The study confirms a significant correlation between low levels of education and low income: prisoners with incomplete primary education typically earned less than 500 soles, while those with higher education earned more than 2,500 soles. Overcrowding, reported by 67.7% of prisoners, is linked to inadequate resources for rehabilitation. The study emphasizes that poverty, lack of education, and family instability are critical factors contributing to criminal behavior. 62.2% of crimes were committed within the same region, highlighting the role of spatial inequality. The results suggest that addressing regional socio-economic disparities, enhancing educational opportunities, and improving rehabilitation programs are crucial for breaking the cycle of poverty, exclusion, and recidivism among incarcerated populations in southern Peru.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de Cañete; Universidad Nacional de Moquegua; Universidad José Carlos Mariátegui de Moquegua